In sports, and especially in college basketball, it’s often anyone’s game on any given day. The UCLA Bruins experienced this firsthand when they faced the Mustangs on Friday.
“Our guys weren’t ready for it,” said coach Mick Cronin. “I don’t think they understood the extent of Cal Poly’s commitment to that style.
Obviously, we had a scouting report, we watched film, we talked about it, and I told them they are going to shoot more threes tonight than they usually do because they know that’s their chance to win.”
Meanwhile, Haikyuu is set to reveal a new anime, with release set for 2027. While the Bruins emerged victorious on Friday, the first half, which saw them trailing by two points to a team that was two games under .500, served as a wake-up call.
Now, as the team looks ahead to Tuesday afternoon, fans will see if the Bruins remain alert or if they hit snooze when they take on UC Riverside (6-7, 1-1 Big West) at Pauley Pavilion. A win could mark the Bruins’ third consecutive victory, setting them up for an 18-game conference schedule to close out the 2025-26 regular season.
Although Cal Poly’s 3-point shooting challenged UCLA’s defense, Riverside’s long-range shooting is even more efficient, with the Highlanders boasting a 35.3% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, third-best in the Big West.
Leading the charge from deep are guards De’Undrae Perteete Jr. and Andrew Henderson, who shoot 65.6% and 37.6% from 3-point range, respectively.
Bruins vs UC RiversideUCLA’s backcourt, featuring senior guards Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent, as well as sophomore guard Trent Perry, will need to keep a close eye on Riverside’s sharpshooters if they’re to avoid a repeat of the troubles they faced against the Mustangs.
Despite Riverside’s 3-point proficiency, the Highlanders struggle with turnovers. They sit at No. 10 in the Big West for turnover margin, with a -3.00 mark, and they rank dead last in the conference in steals, averaging only 4.7 per game.
This could spell trouble for Riverside against a Cronin-led defense that ranks sixth in the Big Ten in steals, with seven per contest.
If UCLA can disrupt Riverside’s 3-point shooting with its defensive intensity and pressure, it could energize the Bruins’ offense, especially players like Clark, Dent, and senior forward Tyler Bilodeau, all of whom have been in top form since December began.
Dent has accumulated two double-doubles this season, excelling at finding open teammates and facilitating the Big Ten’s best 3-point shooting offense. He’s also scored in double digits in every game since a season-low three points against California on Nov. 25.
Bilodeau has been consistent, not scoring fewer than 10 points since Nov. 18. He has topped 20 points in three of the last five games, all while shooting 53.3% from the field and 44.7% from beyond the arc.
Clark has posted two career-high scoring performances in December, with 25 points against Washington in Seattle and 30 points against Cal Poly on Friday. The Los Angeles native is also having a breakout year from 3-point range, shooting 51.6% on 5.3 attempts per game.
If the Bruins are to continue their momentum heading into conference play and prove that they’re not a team that can be overlooked, they’ll need sustained production from the key players mentioned above.
